Named after Hermann Oberth, an Austrian with German ancestors, who was a physicist and space travel enthusiast and author of the book Die Rakete zu den Planetenräumen (By Rocket into Planetary Space). (Star Trek Encyclopedia)

According to a ship list included in the plans, and not seen in the extended cut of the movie, the ship was commanded by R. Morey, and the ship was located in Sector 22956.

The ship's captain may have been named after the sixth movie's first assistant camera operator Rob Morey. [1]